Bag holder



Sept. 16, 1958 J. R. GOODNER BAG HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16. 1956 INVENTOR. James R. Goodner ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, 1958 J. R. GOODNER 2,852,045

BAG HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16. 1956' INVENTOR. James R. Goodner BY waz wi ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent r' 2,852,945 Patented Sept. 16, 1958 BAG HOLDER James R. Goodner, Windsor, Colo., assignor to The Great Western Sugar Company, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application July 16, ies'a'seriai No. 598,178

Claims. (11.141-314 This invention relates to bag holders and more particularly to holders for collapsible bags during the filling of such bags with pulverant material.

Collapsible bags are used for packaging a great variety of materials, normally finely divided materials, and the bags are made in a variety of sizes ranging from a pound or less to a hundred pounds or more.

The filling of such collapsible bags is normally accomplished by a filling using an automatic scale for accurately measuring the amount of material placed in the bags. This method of filling, however, tends to force the collapsible bags into nearly cylindrical shape due to the fact that the bag filling material is introduced as one load rather than a series of loads. One frequently used method of sealing such filled bags, and especially paper bags, is to sew the top opening closed after the filling operation. For commercial operation, a specially designed sewing machine is used to sew the opening closed. The cylindrical shape that the bags assume, however, makes it difficult for an operator to fold in the bag gus sets and to bring the top edges of the bag together so that it may be placed in position for sewing in the sewing machine.

In many industries, a paper bag is used as-the packaging medium to hold pulverant or granular material. Holding a paper bag during the filling operation is a rather delicate operation since the paper tears quite easily under the influence of the filling load, and, also, the packing of the material in the bag tends to force the bag into a cylindrical shape, pushing out the gussets at the end of the bag. In sewing the paper bag, the end gussets should be folded in to form a neatly sealed top which is easily stacked with similar bags.

According to the present invention, there is provided a holder for collapsible bags which securely holds such bags during a filling operation. A collapsible bag may 'be easily and quickly placed on the holder and easily re moved from the holder after being filled. The holder is provided with expansible leaves or diaphragms which hold the bag substantially along the length of the bag sides between the inside folds of the bag gussets. The bag holder maintains the bag in correct position during the filling operation so that the bag gussets remain folded in for the sewing operation without further manipulation of the bag. The diaphragms are pivotally mounted so as to move out of holding position to permit the bag-to be easily positioned between the holding frame and the diaphragms. Low pressure air is injected into the expansible diaphragm to hold the bag with a uniform, low pressure per unit of area. The low pressure holder prevents the tearing or scuffing of the paper. The holder maintains the correct shape of the bag during the filling operation so that sewing of the open top of the bag is easily accomplished after the filling operation.

Included among the objects and advantages of the invention is to provide a bag holder for collapsible bags during the filling operation thereof. so that the top of the bag is maintained in substantially folded shape ready for sealing by sewing the opposite sides of the bag together with the end gussets folded inwardly therebetween. The holder is arranged to readily admit the bag, and expansi'ble diaphragms are provided in the holder for holding the bag substantially along the length thereof with a low, uniform pressure to prevent scuffing and tearing of the bag. The holder is safe for an operator due to the very low fluid pressure for expanding the diaphragm which holds the bag. The low pressures effectively maintain the bag on the bag holder during filling, but will cause substantially no damage to any foreign object caught in the mechanism during the holding operation. The bag holder permits a single operator to efficiently operate a filling machine and a sewing machine, and reduces intermediate handling of the filled bags.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and illustrations in which:

Fig. l is a cross section elevational view of a filling spout and bag holder according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional top plan view of the bag holder;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of an expansible diaphragm or leaf member for holding the bag against the filling spout talken along section line 3-3; and

Fig. 4 is a detail of the partition filling spout of the invention.

In the device illustrated, a pair of generally U-shaped frames 1 and 2 extend laterally in substantially parallel relation and are arranged to be mounted on the discharge spout of a weighing or similar device. Guide vanes 3 are placed at about the ends of the frame sections 1 and 2 and the vanes space the frame section a predetermined distance apart. Guide vanes 4 are provided intermediate of the end guide vanes 3. The guide vanes 4 are generally triangular shape and each apex 5 is extended below the frame section. The triangular shaped guide vanes are positioned to aid the opening of the bag so it may be easily slipped onto the holder. cured to each end of the frame 1 and a side brace 7 is secured to each end of the frame 2 on the oppositeside thereof. The side braces 6 provide a pair of pivots 8 to each of which is pivotally attached a plate support 9. An

expansible diaphragm support plate 10 is secured to the support 9 and the pivots provide pivotal movement for the plate. The braces 7 are provided with a pair of pivots 11 to each of which is attached a plate support 12 which supports a plate 13 for pivotal movement around the pivotal members. Mounted on the plate 10 is an inflatable, soft rubber diaphragm 15 which is riveted by means of rivets 16 to the plate 10. The diaphragm 15 extends upwardly into the U-shaped frame 1, and a grid or diaphragm support 17 holds the diaphragm in an upright position in the U-shaped frame and provides a measure of rigidity for the unexpanded diaphragm. A port 18 is provided for the diaphragm for filling the same with air or activating fluid under pressure, and, also, for releasing the air or fluid from a filled diaphragm. In a similar manner, on the plate 13 is mounted a diaphragm 20 which is secured to the plate by means of rivets 21. The diaphragm is supported in an upright position by a grid 22, and a port 23 provides access for filling the diaphragm with air or relieving the pressure therefrom.

The detail illustrated in Fig. 3 shows the various positions of movement of the diaphragm 15. As the bag is pushed upwardly over the guide vanes into the U-shaped frame, the diaphragm is moved outwardly to the dashed line position by pivoting the plate ll) around the pivots 8. When air is introduced into the diaphragm through the A side brace 6 is seport 18, the plate 10 tends to center with the expanding diaphragm 15. The diaphragms l5 and 20 are filled with low-pressure air or fluid, and since the diaphragms are confined between the legs of the U-shaped frames, a collapsible bag 34? may be securely held substantially along the length of each side thereof in the holder. A large volume of low pressure air may be introduced and released through the ports 18 and 23 to rapidly expand and deflate the diaphragms to provide a fast operational cycle. The ports must be large enough to supply air for quickly expanding and releasin the air to provide an efiicient operational cycle for commercial purposes.

The elongated shape of the holder securely holds the bag in position for filling Without distortion and the end gussets remain folded in the bag. By holding the bag substantially along the length of the sides, the bag may be securely held with very little tendency for tearing the bag during filling. The plates 10 and 13 are balanced so that they tilt inwardly and tend to hold the unexpanded diaphragms against the inner walls of the U-shaped frame and thereby holding an empty bag in place without air pressure. This is advantageous during the operation since the bag does not have to be held in position until sufiicient air is introduced into the diaphragm to hold it in place. After the bag is filled, the ports 18 and 21 are opened to permit the air in the diaphragms to be expelled and the bag is very readily Withdrawn from the holder. During the filling, the bags are retained in shape with their gussets folded in and the bags are very easily passed directly to the bag sealer with substantially no additional manipulation by the operator to place the bag in condition for sealing.

The grids 17 and 22 may be any type of suitable grid or support, for example, a perforated plate which will support the diaphragms in upright position in the frames. The grids are substantially rigid and bear against the inner wall of the diaphragm in the absence of air. The diaphragm then bears against the inner wall of the frame so as to hold a bag in position without air in the diaphragm. The pivotal arrangement of the diaphragm support plates permits easy assembly of the bag on the holder and withdrawal of a filled bag from the holder.

The diaphragms may be made of soft elastoplastic material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, resins and plastics, etc. By using a soft, flexible material which will retain low pressure air for a sufiicient time to hold the sides of the collapsible bags during filling, the bags may be securely held with little possibility of tearing the bags.

While the invention has been illustrated by reference to specific devices, there is no intent to limit the scope and concept of the invention to the precise details described, except insofar as set forth in the appended claims.

i claim:

1. A holder for collapsible bags comprising an elongated chute having two parallel sides of substantially shorter length than the sides of the bag to be held and arranged for guiding material to be filled into the bags, at least one guide vane mounted in the chute extending therebelow and arranged for opening the bag as it is pushed onto said chute, a frame member of substantially U-shape cross section extending along opposed parallel sides of said chute and each arranged with its opening extended downwardly, a plate pivotally mounted on each frame member with one edge thereof adjacent the opening of the frame and arranged to normally tilt toward the inner member of said frame, an elongated expansible diaphragm secured to each said plate and extending into and substantially along the length of the U-shaped sections of the frame, said diaphragrns being arranged to expand and extend from side to side of said U-shaped frames under the influence of a low pressure fluid, and means for introducing such a low pressure fluid into said diaphragms to expand the same between the walls of said frames and hold opposed sides of a bag mounted on said device.

2. A holder for collapsible bags comprising an elongated rectangular chute for guiding material to be filled into the bags, a plurality of guide vanes mounted in the chute extending therebelow and arranged for opening the bag as it is pushed onto said chute, a frame member of substantially U-shape cross section extending along two opposed sides of said chute and each arranged with its opening extended downwardly, a biased plate pivotally mounted on each frame member with one edge thereof adjacent the opening of the frame and arranged to normally tilt toward the inner member of said frame, an elongated expansible diaphragm secured to each said plate and extending into and substantially along the U- shaped sections of the frame, said diaphragms being arranged to expand and extend from side to side of said U-shaped frame under the influence of a low pressure fluid, and means for introducing such a low pressure fluid into said diaphragms to expand the same between the walls of said frames and hold a bag mounted on said device.

3. A holder for collapsible bags during the filling of such bags comprising a chute for guiding the material to be filled into such bags, at least one triangular-shaped guide vane mounted in said chute with the apex thereof extended downwardly, said guide vanes arranged to extend below said chute and partially into 2. held bag so as to open the top of said bag as it is pushed up said guide vanes, a frame member of substantially U-shaped cross section extending along two substantially parallel opposed sides of said chute and each arranged with its opening extended downwardly, said chute being arranged to partially telescope into a held bag so that the opposed sides of the bag extend into said U-shaped frames, a pivotally mounted plate mounted on said frames and each plate having one edge thereof mounted adjacent the opening of its adjacent frame and arranged to normally tilt toward the inner member of said frame, an expansible diaphragm secured to each said plate and each extending into its adjacent frame whereby said diaphragm readily moves away from a bag being mounted, means for holding each said diaphragm in said frame, and means for introducing low-pressure fluid into said diaphragm to expand the same between the walls of said frame and hold a bag mounted thereon.

4. A holder for collapsible bags during the filling of such bags comprising an elongated rectangular chute for guiding the material to be filled into such bags, a plurality of triangular-shaped guide vanes mounted in said chute with the apex of each extended downwardly, said guide vanes arranged to extend partially into a held bag and to open the top of said bag as it is pushed up said guide vanes,

a frame member of substantially U-shape cross section extending along two parallel opposed sides of said chute and each arranged with its opening extended downwardly, said chute being arranged to partially telescope into a held bag so that the sides of the bag extend into said U-shaped frames, a biased plate pivotally mounted along each side of the chute and having one edge thereof mounted adjacent the opening of said U-shaped frames and arranged to normally tilt toward the inner member of said frame, an expansible diaphragm secured to each said plate and extending into the adjacent frame whereby said diaphragm readily moves away from a bag being mounted, means for maintaining said diaphragm extended into each said frame, and means for introducing low pressure fluid into said diaphragm to expand the same between the Walls of said U-shaped frames and hold a bag mounted thereon.

5. A holder for collapsible bags during the filling of such bags comprising an elongated rectangular chute for guiding the material to be filled into such bags, 21

plurality of triangular-shaped guide vanes mounted in said chute with the apex of each extended downwardly, said guide vanes arranged to extend partially into a held bag and to open the top of said bag as it is pushed up said guide vanes, a frame member of substantially U- shape cross section mounted along two parallel opposed sides of said chute and each arranged with its opening extended downwardly, said chute being arranged to partially telescope into a held bag so that the sides of the bag extend into said frame, a biased plate pivotally mounted on said frame having one edge thereof mounted adjacent the opening of said frame and arranged to normally tilt toward the inner member of said frame, a soft rubber diaphragm extending along and secured to each said plate, each diaphragm extending into said U-shape frame, means for maintaining each said diaphragm in its adjacent frame, and means for introducing low-pressure fluid into sid diaphragm to expand the same between and be retained by the walls of said frame and hold a bag mounted thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hobbie June 15, 1943 2,511,241 Bowes June 13, 1950 

